| Our debut show was a success. In addition, we had appointed four members from our debut show to be the troupe leaders. With that, we managed to form four troupes—Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter—without any problems. Just as Tachibana originally planned, we were able to put out plays constantly and started achieving some results because of that. Furthermore, we started gaining popularity. |
| In the meantime, that guy and I started arguing more and more due to our different values. |
| After Tachibana tied the knot with a woman he met at his part-time job and moved out of my apartment, the distance between us only grew further. We didn't talk more than necessary. People around us soon learned of our tension and treated me, who was in a constant bad mood, like I was such a pain in the butt. |
| One day, after Syu said that it'd be better for us to talk things out one more time, Tachibana and I finally got the chance to talk after a long time. But for some reason, Tachibana came to my house along with an ugly stuffed doll in his hand. |
| "What's with that ugly-looking doll?" |
| "Eh? It's cute, isn't it? I just happened to find him. I'm thinking of using it as a small prop for our next play." |
| Not only our hobbies, but our principles were also different from each other. Seeing that our ideals were different, it was useless to discuss things with him. We would remain far apart. Before we even noticed, we kept arguing until late at night and both of us grew increasingly frustrated. |
| "It's out of the question." |
| "That's my line." |
| "It's pointless to keep up this conversation. It's only going to tire us out." |
| "That's enough. I'm gonna sleep here today." |
| "Go home." |
| "There aren't any trains left." |
| "...Do whatever you want." |
| The next morning came, and we noticed something strange happening. Everything was the same as the day before, even the date. Then, on the next morning, we returned to the same day. With me and Tachibana being the only ones who noticed this situation, we repeated the same day over and over again. |
| Then, after some investigations, we came to a conclusion that the stuffed doll Tachibana brought with him was probably the cause. |
| "So it's one of MANKAI Company's seven urban legends?" |
| "What about the remaining six?" |
| "Nothing comes to mind…" |
| Still thinking this whole thing was unbelievable, we continued to struggle hard to break free from the loop. That was when I came up with an idea to end the day in a totally different way. I completely accepted Tachibana's opinion and told him that MANKAI Company should continue the way he wanted. In response, he nodded with a complicated look on his face. |
| Just as I expected, the date finally changed the next morning. Then, I told a delighted Tachibana the things that I decided yesterday. |
| When I told him I'd like to leave MANKAI Company, Tachibana looked hurt, but he didn't say anything to prevent me from leaving. Perhaps, he could generally imagine what would happen if I stayed, given the things that happened yesterday. |
| It was impossible for us to keep doing theater together. We were on bad terms due to the differences in our opinions, and if we kept this up, we would only bring negative influence to the entire company. We didn't want that. |
| I received back the money I lent for MANKAI theater's construction when I was leaving the troupe. With that money, I decided to build a new theater troupe and serve as the chairman there. |
| I had actually realized it ever since our debut perf—no, ever since our play at the cultural festival. |
| Tachibana had no interest in anything but making people bloom, not even his own talent as an actor or any insignificant things. |
| Still, in my opinion, the ideal, godly form of theater was Tachibana's performance on that day. I just wanted to meet God on the stage one more time. That's why, through my own theater troupe, I wanted to train actors that would surpass the Tachibana on that day and put together a perfect play. |
| That troupe's name is "GOD-za." |
| Someday, when MANKAI Company had fallen and GOD-za received the Fleur Award earlier, I was planning to let Tachibana join my troupe if he bowed his head and begged me. My intention was to accept Tachibana, who had nowhere to go, into my troupe with the condition that he'd be an actor. |
| For that very reason, I continued to push GOD-za's popularity, so hard that I felt like I was vomiting blood. |
| However, the one who received a Fleur Award nomination first was MANKAI Company. |
| Seeing an all-smiles Tachibana during the interview at the award ceremony, and the troupe members brimming with enthusiasm, I realized I had once again made a mistake. |
| "Don't get in my way… Tachibana." |
| I will not let them be nominated for Fleur Award again next year. GOD-za will receive that award before MANKAI Company. |
| ...Just when I made that determination, Tachibana suddenly disappeared from Veludo Way—from the theater industry. |
| |
| Reni | … |
| Kusumi | … |
| Madoka | ...Thank you for having us. |
| Izumi | This way, please. |
| Reni | Come in, quick. |
| Kusumi | —. |
| Izumi | Please wait a little bit at the lounge. I'm going to call Misumi-kun. |
| Madoka | Yes. |
| Reni | … |
| Izumi | (He's looking around…) |
| Have you also lived here before, Kamikizaka-san? |
| Reni | ...No, the dorm was built several years after our debut performance. |
| I was told about the concept, but the construction was done after I left the troupe. This is my first time here. |
| I flatly rejected it when Tachibana told me he wanted a dorm where the troupe members could live like a family. |
| Izumi | I see… |
| (He looks like he's feeling nostalgic and sad for some reason…) |
| Shall I show you around the dorm a little bit? |
| |
| Reni | ...What a beautiful courtyard. |
| Izumi | This garden was left to run wild back when I first came here… But thanks to Tsumugi-san, we have all kinds of flowers blooming here every season. |
| Reni | —. |
| |
| Yukio | Reni! This courtyard is awesome, isn't it? I feel like I can get a lot of ideas here. |
| Yuzo | But it'd cost a lot of money to build this place. |
| Zen | And we can't build it if the lot isn't wide enough, not to mention the land price. |
| Kasumi | But this place sure is beautiful! |
| ??? | Who will take care of this place, though? |
| Syu | Well… we already know who it will be, don't we? The guy who isn't here. |
| Yuzo | So we elected the absent party, huh. |
| |
| Reni | ...Hmph. |
| (...I should stop searching for the lost days.) |
| Izumi | Kamikizaka-san? |
| Reni | It's nothing. Let's go. |
